Boat ladder

ABSTRACT

A SIMPLE, STURDY LADDER FOR ENTERING A BOAT EQUIPPED WITH AN INBOARD-OUTBOARD DRIVE SYSTEM IS PROVIDED. A FRAME HAVING A PLURALITY OF RUNGS OR STEPS ATTACHED THERETO IS AFFIXED TO THE UPPER REAR PORTION OF THE OUTDRIVE UNIT OF THE BOAT.

Sept- 2 "I E. R. JOH-ANSEN BOAT- LADDER Filed May-l6, 1969 A rive/14975 United States Patent ice 3,606,934 BOAT LADDER Erliug Roderic Johansen, 3616 NW. 65th Court, Seattle, Wash. 98107 Filed May 16, 1969, Ser. No. 825,217 Int. Cl. E06c 1/34, /06

US. Cl. 182-97 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A simple, sturdy ladder for entering a boat equipped with an inboard-outboard drive system is provided. A frame having a plurality of rungs or steps attached thereto is aflixed to the upper rear portion of the outdrive unit of the boat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to means for conveniently entering and leaving a boat for persons such as water skiers, swimmers or the like. This invention relates further to a ladder or step device combined with the outboard drive unit of a boat.

Ladder devices commonly used in the prior art to aid in entering or leaving a boat for individuals such as swimmers or water skiers have traditionally been of the type which are affixed to the gunwhale of the boat temporarily while in use and then pulled inside the boat for storage while the boat is underway. This type of ladder has the inherent disadvantages of requiring manual manipulation for its use and storage. In addition, in small boat usage a person entering or leaving the boat causes a significant rocking action in the boat not infrequently resulting in the capsizing of small boats. Other ladder or step devices which have been proposed in the prior art to be connected to the transom of a boat also require a manual manipulation to retrieve the device from the water prior to the boats getting underway.

The device of this invention eliminates the inherent disadvantages of the prior art gunwhale or transommounted ladders and provides a convenient way of entering any boat equipped with an outboard type propulsion unit. The device of this invention is permanently attached and requires no manual manipulation for use in entering or leaving the boat, or prior to getting underway. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a convenient ladder or step device for entering and leaving a small to medium sized boat equipped with an outboard drive unit. It is a further object of this invention to provide a ladder for entering and leaving a boat equipped with an outboard propulsion unit which does not interfere with the normal operation of the outboard propulsion unit in any manner.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from an evaluation of the specification below and from the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rear portion of a boat showing the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1 attached to the outdrive unit of the boat.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the rear portion of a boat having an outboard drive unit with the drive unit tilted up for transport on the road or for maintenance of the propeller, having the device shown in FIG. 1 attached thereto.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a boat with the device of this invention in operative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which show in detail the inventors preferred embodiment, in FIG. 1 the ladder device comprises a pair of rear handrails 3,606,934 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 10 and a pair of front handrails -11 carrying two pairs of side rails 12 on which the ladder rungs or steps 14 have been mounted with rung supports 18. Attached to the lower end of rear handrails 10 are a pair of lower arms 24 on which lo'wer mounting brackets 20 are connected. At the lower end of the front handrails 11 a pair of upper arms 26 are connected each of which carry an upper mounting bracket 22.

In FIG. 2 a typical mounting arrangement is shown. The outdrive unit generally shown at 1 extends through the central portion of the transom 5 and is ope'ratively connected to propeller 2 through a series of gearing arrangements not pertinent to this invention. The upper mounting brackets 22 are connected to a convenient ear 23 mounted on top of the outdrive unit 1. The lower mounting brackets 20 are connected to the rear mount for hydraulic cylinder 3. Hydraulic cylinder 3- acts to raise and lower the outdrive unit for operation or for transportation on land. The waterline represented as line 16 is shown in FIG. 2 to be well above the lower rung of the ladder device of this invention while the boat is at rest. Boats having this type of outboard propulsion unit sit heavily in the water at the rear when at rest making ingress to the boat at this location easy and simple. Since the lower of the rungs 14 is below the water level, an individual may easily enter the boat by placing his feet on the lower ladder rung and raising his body out of the water while grasping the handrails 10, and then proceed up the ladder into the boat. In FIG. 3 the outdrive unit is shown in position for transporting over land or while at rest, for example a dock or other installation whenever it is desired to have the greater portion of the outdrive unit out of the water. Hydraulic cylinder 3 is extended which forces the outdrive unit to pivot about a point which is hidden by shroud 7. Hydraulic cylinder 3 is operated by fluids which are forced through hydraulic lines 4. In this FIG. 3 it is seen that the design of the boat ladder permits raising the outdrive unit 1 without interference with its operation. Front handrails 11 clear the transom 5 and no interference is observed with the operation of hydraulic cylinder 3. The rear view of the boat shown in FIG. 4 points out that the device of this invention is situated directly atop the outdrive unit 1 and rests with the lower rung of the ladder under the surface of the water when the boat is not moving through the water.

In use the device of this invention is attached directly to the outboard drive unit of a boat. The lower rung of the ladder is below the surface of the Water when the boat is at rest. However, it is completely out of the water when the boat is in motion. This is due to the rapid planing effect of boats of this type. When it is desired to pick up an individual from the water, the operator of the boat would position the boat in proximity to the individual in the water and cut the power to the engine making sure that the propeller was not turning. The individual in the water would then approach the rear of the boat, grasp the handrails 10, and place one foot on the lower rung 14 and then hoist himself aboard. Little or no assistance from the occupants of the boat would be necessary to aid an individual in entering the boat, since the handrail 10 and ladder rungs 14 are conveniently positioned to permit easy exit from the water. If desired. the cavitation plate 9 on the outdrive unit 1 could be extended slightly to provide a first step below the first rung, if the hydrodynamic characteristics of the drive unit are not seriously altered. The weight of the individual entering the boat will not have a significant effect regarding the stability of the boat, since he is entering from the rear instead of from the side, thus decreasing the discomfort of the individuals in the boat and lessening or substantially eliminating the possibility of capsizing the boat due to a sudden weight shift in the boat.

The materials of construction which have been found to be suitable for the device of this invention include tubular or solid metal segments for front and rear handrails and side rails. Wood, metal, or plastic materials may be used for the ladder rungs. Of course, any suitable material may be substituted for the above described materialswhich will adequately perform the required functions.

The apparatus described above finds application on boats having a self-contained outboard motor type drive unit as well as boats having the above'described outdrive propulsion system commonly known as an inboard-outboard drive system.

One embodiment which will be of great utility for use with the self-contained outboard motor type propulsion unit is a step means or ladder attached to the side of the drive means rather than to the upper back part of the drive means, so that it is not necessary to climb over the top of the drive unit.

The above-described device may have many minor changes and alterations but remain within the scope, intent and spirit of this invention. For example: any number of ladder steps or rungs may be used; the shape and design of the handrails and steps may be altered to meet the individual needs of the boat and drive unit for which it is to be adapted; the steps may be formed as an integral part of the outdrive unit by the manufacturer; the handrail could be directly attached to the transom of the boat and any other modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be employed. By use of this invention easy and safe entrance to a boat from the water can be attained.

I claim:

1. Outboard drive means for a boat provided with step means comprising a plurality of weight-bearing surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said step means comprises ladder means attached to said outboard drive means.

3. In combination, a boat with an outboard drive means having step means thereon comprising a plurality of weight-bearing surfaces.

4. The'apparatus of claim 1 wherein said step means is formed as an integral part of said outboard drive means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said step means is removably attached to said outboard drive means.

'6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ladder means has at least one handrail means firmly attached thereto and extending upwardly therefrom.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 and handrail means attached to and extending upwardly from said outboard drive means.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said step means comprises a ladder having at least one handrail attached thereto.

9. A ladder apparatus for use with a boat having an outboard drive means comprising a ladder segment, at least one handrail attached to said ladder segment and means to attach said ladder segment to said outboard drive means.

10. A ladder apparatus for use with a boat having an outboard drive means, said ladderapparatus comprising a pair of substantially parallel side rails carrying at least one ladder rung firmly attached therebetween, a pair of upstanding handrails, said handrails formed in a substantially L-shape, one end of each of said pair of handrails being attached to the lower end of each of said pair of substantially parallel side rails and the other end of said handrails being firmly attached to the'upper end of each of said pair of side rails, and means to rigidly attach said ladder apparatus to said outdrive unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said step means is formed as an integral part of said drive means.

12. An outboard drive means for a boat comprising: means attached to the transom of said boat to deliver r0- tational motion to a propeller means, a cavitation plate means disposed above said propeller; and, step means comprising at least one substantially horizontal weightbearing surface positioned on said outboard drive means. 13. The apparatus of claim 12 and handrail means positioned above said outboard drive means to assist a swimmer in entering the boat.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said step means are formed as an integral part of the exterior of said drive means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,738 3/1961 Ladewig -41 3,052,896 9/1962 Beach 1 82-97 3,160,423 12/1964 Boone 182129 3,285,367 11/1966 Brodie 182-97 2,974,746 3/1961 Baker 182-106 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

